Cartridge loading device

ABSTRACT

A device for loading cartridge ammunition into magazines for firearms. The device comprises a base at a first end of a rear slot for engaging with a magazine feed. At least one guide rail located within the rear slot is adapted to locate the cartridge substantially in a loading orientation such that cartridges are presented to be loaded into a magazine feed when it the feed is engaged by the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for loading cartridgeammunition into magazines for firearms.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Firearm magazines are typically loaded by inserting cartridges manually,one at a time into a magazine feed. This is typically time consuming andsometimes a misfeed occurs, especially under stressful conditions.

An object of the invention is to provide a device to facilitate andaccelerate the feeding of cartridge ammunition into magazine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a devicefor loading cartridge ammunition into a magazine, the device comprising:a rear slot for receiving an end of a cartridge, a base at a first endof the slot for engaging with a magazine feed, and at least one guiderail within the rear slot which in use engages with a rim of thecartridge, characterised in that the at least one guide rail is adaptedto locate the cartridge substantially in a loading orientation so that,when the magazine feed is engaged by the base, the cartridge ispresented to be loaded into the magazine feed and resiliently deformableclips are provided at an upper end and at a lower end of the guide rail,and at a lower end of a front slot.

The rear slot may receive individual ends of a plurality of cartridges,whose rims may be engaged by the at least one guide rail in use, whichmay be located in the loading orientation by the at least one guiderail, and which may be presented to be loaded into the magazine feedwhen the magazine feed is engaged by the base.

In some embodiments, the rear slot and the at least one guide rail maybe adapted to locate the cartridge or cartridges in the loadingorientation, either independently or in conjunction with one another.

In use, a stack of cartridges may be held by the device with their rearends located within the rear slot, the at least one guide rail mayretain the cartridges within the rear slot, the device may engage thefeed of a magazine to be loaded, and the cartridges may be pushed orotherwise displaced along the length of the slot and guide rail into thefeed. In this way, the device may facilitate the loading of magazineswith cartridge ammunition.

The loading orientation may be with respect to the base. Preferably, theloading orientation is the orientation at which a magazine feed engagedby the base presents cartridges for extraction by a firearm.

Ammunition cartridges typically comprise a radially extending rim (orflange) at their rear ends (the purpose of which is to facilitate theextraction of cartridges from a firearm by the extractor of thefirearm). On some cartridges (known as rimmed cartridges) the rim has agreater diameter than the remainder of the cartridge and extendsdirectly from the base of the cylindrical propellant casing, othercartridges (known as rimless, semi-rimmed, rebated rim, or beltedcartridges) comprise a rim which may have a diameter equal to, slightlygreater than, or less than, that of the cylindrical propellant casing,but define a circumferential radially indented extractor groove betweenaround the base of the cartridge, between the rim and the remainder ofthe cartridge.

It is understood that where the at least one guide rails is described asengaging with the rim or a cartridge, it may be understood as engagingwith the extractor groove (one side of which is defined by the rim ofthe cartridge).

The device may be used and/or configured to load a variety of differentmagazines. Individual embodiments of the device may be dimensioned orotherwise configured to engage with, and/or be used to load a specifictype of magazine, a selection of magazines, or any appropriatelydimensioned magazine. Other embodiments may be adjustable so as toengage with, and/or be used to load a greater variety of magazines.

These magazines may be detachable magazines, integral magazines, boxmagazines, casket magazines, drum magazines, saddle-drum magazines,and/or pan magazines.

A magazine feed (or magazine mouth) is the aperture through whichcartridges are loaded into a magazine, it is typically also the aperturethrough which cartridges are removed from the magazine, or from whichcartridges are extracted by a firearm.

The feed is typically defined by a pair of feed lips which define thelongitudinal sides of the (typically substantially rectangular) feed.

The end or ends of the one or more cartridges received by the rear slotmay be the rear ends of the cartridges. The cartridge ends may beinsert-able into, retained within, displaceable within or along, and/ordisplaceable out of the rear slot. In preferred embodiments, the ends ofthe cartridges may be displaceable lengthways into and/or out of one orboth of the ends of the rear slot (which may be open) and may bedisplaceable along the length of the slot but may not be displaceabledepth-wise out of the slot.

In embodiments wherein the rear slot and guide rail receive, engage withthe rims of, and locate in the loading orientation a plurality ofcartridges, the rear slot and/or the guide rail may retain thecartridges substantially parallel to one another and may thereby preventthe cartridges from becoming substantially displaced from the loadingorientation whilst being delivered from the slot.

The loading orientation is the angular arrangement in three dimensionssubstantially within which one or more cartridges are held by the device(by rear slot and guide rail thereof) and may be defined with referenceto the base of the device. In use cartridges may be delivered from therear slot and the device into feed of a magazine engaged by the device.

Cartridges within the loading orientation are preferably at the sameangle with respect to magazine feed as cartridges in the extractionposition of an at least partially loaded magazine whose feed is engagedby the base. The extraction position of a magazine being the positionwhere a cartridge is presented for extraction into the chamber of afirearm.

The cartridge that in the extraction position of a magazine is the mostrecently loaded cartridges and is located at the feed of the magazine(in a typical detachable box magazine these cartridges are held betweenone or both of the feed lips of a magazine and either the follower oranother cartridge). This is the orientation in which cartridges areloaded into a magazine. The cartridge in this extraction position mayhave same orientation as any other cartridges within magazine, or maynot, depending upon the shape or curvature of the magazine.

The orientation at which a magazine is engaged by the base, and/or theangle at which a magazine is held when engaged by the base may be fixed,or may be limited to a selection or range of angles.

The at least one guide rail may locate the plurality of cartridges(whose ends are retained therein) in the loading orientation, inconjunction with the rear slot, and/or in conjunction with one or moreother components of the device (such as an optional forward slot). Theat least one guide rail (and/or the rear slot or any other components ofthe device) may provide sufficient friction to retain cartridges in theloading orientation when they are inserted therein, or are manuallyreoriented thereto. In some embodiments, the cartridges may be heldsubstantially in the loading orientation by friction between the atleast one guide rail and the rims and/or the extractor grooves (whichare at least partially defined by the rims) of the one or morecartridges.

The rear slot, and/or the at least one guide rail may restrict the rangeof angles at which cartridges whose ends are received therein may beheld. The rear slot (and optionally other components) may be dimensionedso as to restrict cartridges whose ends are received therein to lie withtheir longitudinal axes substantially within a plane orthogonal to thewidth of the slot.

The device may comprise components (such as clips at one or more ends ofthe rear and/or front slots) which may restrict the angles at whichcartridges displaced to the first end and/or the distal second end ofthe rear slot (for example, by gravity, by a user, or by othercartridges within the slot) may be held. For example, the device maycomprise retaining elements which may prevent the longitudinal axes ofcartridges whose ends are received by the rear slot from being displacedout of a rectangular plane, one edge of which is defined by longitudinalaxis of the rear slot.

In some embodiments cartridges whose rear ends are received by the rearslot may be retained in the loading orientation by other cartridges. Forexample, the side walls of the rear slot (and/or other components suchas the at least one guide rail, or an optional front slot) may retainthe cartridge within a plane orthogonal to the width of the slot, andadjacent cartridges in the loading orientation may restrict thecartridge to the loading orientation.

A plurality of cartridges may form a stack of parallel cartridges, thecartridge at one or both of ends of which may be retained in the loadingorientation may retaining elements at one of ends of the slot, and theremaining cartridges may be displaced into and/or retained in theloading orientation by being pressed into the end cartridges (forexample by gravity, or by a user). In some situations, the entire lengthof the slot may be filled with the ends of cartridges which form a stackof cartridges, one or both end cartridges of which are retained in theloading orientation by retaining means, such that the remainder of thecartridges are maintained parallel to each other in the loadingorientation.

The guide rail and/or the rear slot may retain the cartridges parallelto each other, and/or in the loading orientation by engaging with therims of the cartridges whose ends are retained by the rear slot. Theguide rail may restrict the available orientation of the ends of thecartridges within the rear slots, for example in some embodiments the atleast one guide rail may contact the forward faces of the rims and maythereby hold the rear faces of the rims (the rear faces of thecartridges) against an interior wall of the slot (for example the wallof the slot opposite its longitudinal opening). This may prevent thecartridge from being rotated within the rear slot, and may retain thecartridges parallel to each other in the loading orientation.

The guide rail may also retain the cartridges within the slot and/or mayprevent depth-wise displacement of the cartridges (and/or the rimsthereof) into and/or out of the slot.

The ends of cartridges received by the rear slot may be received suchthat the rims of the cartridges (located at their rear ends) are locatedwithin the rear slot. The front or bullet ends of the cartridges mayextend forwards from the rear slot, these ends may be enclosed withinanother component of the device (such as an optional front slot) or maybe unconstrained. In the loading orientation the cartridges may extendsforwards from the rear slot and their longitudinal axes may besubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rear slot

The cartridges whose rear ends are received by the rear slot may be freeto move within and/or along length of the rear slot. In preferredembodiments, the rear slot and/or the at least one guide rail may retaincartridges in the loading orientation as they are displaced along thelength of the rear slot.

The rear slot may be an elongate groove and may have open ends which maybe arranged for the receipt of cartridge ends therein, or the removal ofcartridge ends therefrom

The base may engage with the feed of the magazine such that cartridgesmay be displaced from the rear slot into the magazine. In someembodiments, the base may engage with the feed of a magazine such thatcartridges may be slid out of the first end of the slot (which may be anopen end of the slot) into the feed of the magazine, preferably when thebase has engaged the feed of the magazine, cartridges cannot bedisplaced out of the first end of the rear slot without being displacedinto the magazine.

The base may engage the feed of the magazine such that the open firstend of the rear slot is at the rear end of the feed of the magazine, andthe longitudinal opening of the slot faces forwards along the length ofthe feed of the magazine (such that cartridges with their rear ends inthe plot are in the correct orientation to be loaded into the magazine).

For example, the base may engage the magazine such that the open firstend of the slot is located adjacent to and/or directly above the rearend of the feed of the magazine, such that a cartridge may pass out ofthe open end of the slot into the magazine. The base may engage with themagazine such that the longitudinal opening of the slot is facingforwards along the magazine.

The base may engage the magazine such that the rear slot is normal tothe feed of the magazine (such that cartridges with their rear ends inthe slot, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slot,will be parallel to the feed of the magazine).

The base may engage with the magazine by fitting onto, fitting partiallyaround, partially enclosing, and/or entirely enclosing the feed of themagazine, the top of the magazine, and/or other parts of the magazinewhich surround the feed (for example, the feed lips of the magazine).The base may releasably connect to the magazine.

The base may comprise a socket into which the magazine may be inserted.The socket may be—or may have the shape or dimensions of—a magazine wellwhich may correspond to the magazine.

The base may releasably connect to the magazine, for example, the basemay be dimensioned to form an interference fit between the device and amagazine with which the base has engaged. In some embodiments, the basemay comprise a magazine release catch mechanism, which may operate inand/or have the same design as the magazine release catch of a firearm.For example, the base may comprise a spring-loaded detest which mayengage with an aperture or indent in the magazine when the base engageswith the magazine.

The base may comprise an indent, notch, slot, aperture, or recess forreceiving a portion of the magazine. This portion may be, or maycomprise the top of, the feed of, and/or the feed lips of the magazine.Alternatively, or additionally, the base may fit partially or entirelyinto the feed of the magazine.

The base may comprise an aperture, passage, chute, slot, or notchdimensioned and arranged to allow passage of a cartridge therethrough.The aperture, passage, slot, or notch may allow access to the feed of amagazine with which the base is engaged, and may allow cartridges to beinserted therethrough into the feed. Preferably, aperture, passage,slot, or notch may be dimensioned so as to allow cartridges to passtherethrough with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to theirdirection of travel (such that they can be loaded into a magazine feedparallel to the aperture. In use, the aperture, passage, slot, or notchmay fit over and/or conform substantially to the shape of the feed of amagazine with which the base is engaged. The aperture, passage, or slotmay define a chute which in use may guide cartridges which are insertedtherethrough (in the correct orientation) into the feed of a magazineengaged by the base.

The aperture, passage, chute, slot, or notch may be located at the endof and/or along a portion of the length of the rear slot, this may allowa cartridge to be displaced along and/or out of the end of the rearslot. In preferred embodiments, the rear slot extends into and along awall of the aperture, passage, slot, or notch, such that in use the openfirst end of the rear slot is at the rear end of the feed of the feed ofa magazine engaged by the slot.

The device may define a pathway, track or channel within whichcartridges may be held, along which cartridges may be displaced, andfrom the end of which cartridges may be displaced into the feed of amagazine. This pathway, track or channel may be located adjacent to, andalong the length of the rear slot. The pathway, track or channel maycomprise an empty space dimensioned receive a stack of parallelcartridges with their rear ends located within the rear slot. Thepassageway may extend through, and/or may be partially defined by theoptional aperture, passage, chute, slot, or notch in the base. Thepathway, track, or channel may be located between the rear slot and afront slot which may receive the front ends of the cartridges whose rearends are within the rear slot, the front and rear slots may be straightand parallel so as to define a linear pathway, track, or channel. Thepathway, track, or channel may be parallel to the direction in whichcartridges are loaded into a magazine (the direction of the springcomprised by the magazine).

The base may be dimensioned and/or shaped such that it will only engagewith a magazine (or only engage to the extent that cartridges may bedisplaced into the magazine) if the base is correctly located and/ororiented with respect to the magazine (for example, with the rear slotat the rear of the magazine, such that cartridges loaded therefrom willbe pointing in the correct direction). The base may be keyed such thatit will only engage with the magazine in such an arrangement. The basemay comprise a key which may only fit into the magazine when the deviceis in the correct location and/or arrangement with respect to themagazine.

The rear slot may be an elongate groove which may be substantiallycuboid and may comprise only a single longitudinal opening. The width ofthe longitudinal opening may be equal to the width of the slot, or maybe narrower than the width of the slot. In some embodiments, the widthof the longitudinal opening of the slot may be equal to, or slightlygreater than the diameter of the body of the cartridges.

In embodiments where the width of slot is greater than the width of thelongitudinal opening the additional width may accommodate the guiderails and/or the rims of the cartridges.

The rear slot may have one or two open ends which may be at the upperend and/or the base end of the device. In use cartridges may be insertedinto the rear slot, and/or displaced out of the rear slot through one orboth of the open ends. In some embodiments, clips (for example, clipscomprised by the guide rails) may prevent cartridges from beingunintendedly displaced out of one or both of the ends of the rear slot.In other embodiments one or both of the rear slots may comprise means toclose them, for example removable insert-able plugs, or displaceable endcovers or flaps.

The rear slot may be straight, may extend from and/or be normal to thebase of the device. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis of therear slot is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of cartridges in theloading orientation.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a front slot which may receivesecond ends of the cartridges whose first ends are received by the rearslot. The front slot may receive the front (bullet) ends of thecartridges.

The front slot may be parallel, and may face towards the opening of therear slot. The front slot may be an elongate groove and may compriseonly a single longitudinal opening. The width of the longitudinalopening of the front slot may be substantially equal to or slightlygreater than the diameter of the neck of the cartridges.

The front and rear cartridges may define a track or pathway within whichcartridges may be held and/or along which cartridges may be displaced.The track may have entirely, or partially open sides intermediate thefront and rear cartridges, and may extend through an aperture in thebase of the device, the track may be perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of cartridges in the loading orientation.

The device may comprise a pair of guide rails for engaging with the rimsof the cartridges, which may be parallel to each other. The guiderail(s) may engage and/or interlock with the extractor grooves definedby the rims of the cartridges. The guide rail(s) may extend along thelength of the rear slot.

Cartridges may be free to slide along the rail(s) or may be held inposition along the rails unless manually displaced, for example byfriction between the cartridges and the walls of the rear slot, theoptional front slot, and/or the guide rail.

The one or more guide rails may comprise one or more clips at one orboth of their ends which may retain cartridges on the rails and/orwithin the front and/or rear slot.

These clips may comprise one or more flexible and/or resilientlydeformable protrusions which may extend width-wise within the rear slot.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample with reference to the Figures, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a device for loadingcartridge ammunition into a magazine containing fifteen cartridges;

FIG. 2 is an overall view of an upper end of the device containing asingle cartridge; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the base of the device containing at least onecartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Referring to the figures generally there is shown an embodiment of adevice 100 for loading cartridge ammunition into a magazine. The device100 comprises: a base 110 for engaging with a magazine (not shown) andthe feed thereof; and a shaft within which cartridges 200 are held andalong which cartridges 200 are displaced.

In use, the base 110 engages with a magazine, and cartridges 200 aredisplaced from the shaft into feed of the magazine.

The body of the device 100 comprises the base 110 and forward and rearcolumn portions 122, 132 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe shaft, from the base 110 to the upper end of the device 100 from thebase. A notch is defined between the column portions 122, 132. The notchis generally cuboid and is bordered by the forward column portion 132 ona forward face, by the base 110 on a lower face and by the rear columnportion 122 on a rear face. The side and upper faces of the notch beingopen.

The device 100 is herein described as if the base 110 is at the lowerend of the device 100, with shaft along which cartridges pass beingvertical. It will be appreciated that in use the device may bereoriented such that for example, the upper end is actually below thebase 110, and/or the longitudinal axis of the shaft (and of anycomponents parallel thereto) is no longer vertical.

Cartridges 200 held by the device within the shaft 100 are held parallelto each other, with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to thevertical longitudinal axes of the shaft. The forward and rear of thedevice 100 corresponding to the forward and rear ends of cartridges 200held therein.

The base comprises a vertical aperture 112 formed therethrough, theaperture being dimensioned to allow the passage of a forward pointingcartridge 200 with a horizontal longitudinal axis. The aperture connectsthe notch to a socket 114 formed in the lower end of the base 110.

The device comprises front and rear slots 120, 130 which receive thefront and rear ends of cartridges 200 held by the device 100respectively. The front and rear slots 120, 130 are elongate open-endedgrooves with vertical longitudinal axes.

The forward slot 130 extends from the upper end of the device 100, alongthe forward wall of the notch (in the rear face of the forward columnportion 132 of the body of the device 100) into the aperture 112 in thebase 110, along the forward face of the interior of the aperture 112 andto the socket 114 in the base 110.

The rear slot 120 extends from the upper end of the device 100, alongthe rear wall of the notch (in the forward face of the rear columnportion 122 of the body of the device 100) into the aperture 112 in thebase 110, along the rear face of the interior of the aperture 112 and tothe socket 114 in the base 110.

The front and rear slots 130, 120 are parallel to each other and haverearward facing and forward facing longitudinal openings respectively;the longitudinal openings of the front and rear slots 130, 120 facetowards each other, so as to allow cartridges to be held with theiropposite ends in the two slots.

The width of the opening of the front slot 130 is narrower (width-wise)than that of the rear slot 120 as it is dimensioned to receive thenarrower front (bullet) ends of cartridges 200—in the illustratedembodiment the width of the opening of the front slot 130 is equal tothe width of the neck 210 of a cartridge 200.

The width of the opening of the rear slot 120 is wider than that of thefront slot as it is dimensioned to receive the wider rear ends ofcartridges 200—in the illustrated embodiment, the width of the openingof the rear slot 120 is equal to that of the body 220 of the cartridge(the cylindrical propellant carrying chamber). In use rear slot 120receives the rear end of the cartridge 200 including a portion of thebody 220, the rim 230, and the extractor groove 240.

The width of the interior of rear slot 120 is greater than that of theopening of the rear slot, allowing it to accommodate a pair of guiderails, in addition to the rear of cartridges 200. In alternativeunillustrated embodiments, this greater width may also accommodatecartridge rims 230 which have greater diameters than their associatedbodies 220, such as in rimmed or semi-rimmed cartridges 200, or mayaccommodate belts on belted cartridges 200 which have greater diametersthan the remainders of the bodies 220 of the belted cartridges 200.

The shaft of the device 100 extends vertically through the device 100from its upper end to the socket 114 formed in the base 110. The shaftis defined between the forward and rear slots 130, 120 which define theforward and rear sides of the shaft. The length of the shaft extendsfrom the top of the notch, to the bottom of the shaft, and through theaperture 112 in the base 110. The aperture 112 defines and surrounds thelower-most end of the shaft.

The shaft is dimensioned to allow forward pointing cartridges 200 withtheir longitudinal axes horizontal, their front ends in the front slot130, and their rear ends in their rear slots 120 to be located withinthe shaft at any point along its length.

In use cartridges 200 may inserted into the shaft (preferably byinserting their ends into the open ends of the front and rear slots 130,120 at the upper end of the device 100), may be displaced along thelength of the shaft (while maintaining the cartridges 200 substantiallyhorizontal and with their front and rear ends in the front and rearslots 130, 120), and may be displaced out of the lower end of the shaftinto the socket 114, or a magazine there engaged (by displacing the endsof the cartridge 200 out of the lower open ends of the front and rearslots 130, 120 which open into the socket 114).

The base 110 comprises a socket 114 formed in its lower end dimensionedto receive the upper end of a magazine. The socket 114 has thedimensions of a firearm magazine well, so as to securely receive theupper end of a magazine and to locate the feed of the magazine forcartridges 200 to be fed thereinto.

An aperture 112, is formed in the upper face of the socket 114 and isarranged such that it is located above the feed of a magazine insertedinto the socket 114, and that cartridges pushed through the aperture 112along the front and rear slots 120, 130 will be delivered into the feedof magazine, and hence loaded thereinto.

The socket 114 is dimensioned to only receive a magazine in the correctdirection, and comprises a key 116 which obstructs a magazine from beinginserted in the wrong orientation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the socket 114 is dimensioned to receivethe upper end of a STANAG (Trade Mark) magazine, and the slots 120, 130,the guide rails 140, the shaft and the aperture 112 are dimensioned tohold and allow passage of 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridges 200.

The key 116 of the illustrated socket 114 is a narrower portion of thesocket which in use receives a narrower portion of a STANAG (Trade Mark)magazine which runs along the rear ends of the magazine (sometimes knownas an alignment rib). This prevents the magazine being inserted front toback.

The magazine comprises a pair of guide rails 140 which extend parallelto each other within and along the length of the rear slot 120. In use,the guide rails 140 interlock with and are located within the extractorgroove 240 of the cartridges 200 which is defined by the rims 230 of thecartridges. The cartridges prevent the rims 230 from being displaceddepth-wise out of the rear slot, thereby preventing the cartridges frombeing displaced out of the rear slot 120 except when they are slid outof the open ends of the rear slot 120.

In some variations of the illustrated embodiment, the guide rails maybrace the rims 230 and rear ends of the cartridges against the planarrear wall of the rear slot thereby holding the cartridges in ahorizontal orientation as is required for loading into a magazine.

Friction between the guide rails 140 and the cartridges 200 prevent thecartridges 200 from sliding freely along the length of the rear slot,and the geometry of the guide rails prevent the cartridges 200 fromtwisting with respect to the device 100. This allows the cartridges 200to maintain their horizontal loading orientation, and position along thelength of the slot, without for example being displaced therefrom bygravity (this is illustrated in FIG. 2 which shows a single cartridgebeing supported in the horizontal orientation at the top of the rearslot 120 without a stack of cartridges underneath it).

The device further comprises three sets of resiliently deformable clips150 at the upper end of the guide rails, at the lower end of the guiderails, and at the lower end of the front slot 130.

The clips 150 at the upper and lower ends of the guide rails 140 retaincartridges 200 within the rear slot 120 and on the guide rails 140,unless the cartridges are forced passed the clips 150 by a user. Theresiliently deformable clips 150 comprising inwardly (width-wise withrespect to the rear slot 120) extending protrusions such that theseparation of the clips 150 at the upper end of the guide rails is lessthan the diameter of the cartridges 200 at the extractor groove 240.

The clips 150 at the lower end of the front slot prevent the forward endof any of the cartridges 200 being inadvertently displaced out of theaperture 112 at the end of the slots 120, 130 and into the socket 114. Acartridge 200 supported by the clips 150 at the lower ends of each ofthe slots 120, 130 will be in the loading orientation (with itslongitudinal axis horizontal) such that if it displaced downwards itwill be displaced through the clips 150 into the socket 114, and thefeed of any magazine inserted therein.

In use, a plurality of cartridges 200 (up to fifteen—half of thecapacity of typical thirty round rifle magazine) are held and stackedparallel to each other within the shaft of the device 100. Thesecartridges are accessible through the sides of the notch. A user mayinsert an unloaded, or partially loaded magazine into the socket 114,and a user may then press downwards on the stacked cartridges 200,pushing them down the shaft, along the slots 120, 130, through theaperture 112 and into the feed of the engaged magazine, until all thecartridges 200 have been loaded or the magazine is full.

The device further comprises a width-wise aperture 118 defined by a loopforward of and adjacent to the base 110, for receipt of a carabineerclip. The device is dimensioned and shaped to be held in a single hand,and comprises a non-slip matt-black finish. The device is generallyruggedized, waterproof, and designed for outdoor use in a variety oftemperatures and ambient conditions.

The invention has been described by way of example only and it will beappreciated that variation may be made to the embodiment described abovewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

COMPONENTS

-   Device 100-   Base 110-   Aperture 112-   Socket 114-   Key 116-   Carabineer Aperture 118-   Rear Slot 120-   Rear Column 122-   Front Slot 130-   Front Column 132-   Guide Rails 140-   Clips 150-   Cartridge 200-   Neck 210-   Body 220-   Rim 230-   Extractor Groove 240

1. A device for loading cartridge ammunition into a magazine, the devicecomprising: a rear slot for receiving an end of a cartridge, a base at afirst end of the rear slot for engaging with a magazine feed, and atleast one guide rail within the rear slot which in use engages with arim of the cartridge, characterised in that the at least one guide railis adapted to locate the cartridge substantially in a loadingorientation such that when the magazine feed is engaged by the base, thecartridge is presented to be loaded into the magazine feed andresiliently deformable clips are provided at an upper end and at a lowerend of the guide rail, and at a lower end of a front slot.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the rear slot receives a plurality ofcartridges, and the at least one guide rail engages with rims of theplurality of cartridges and locates the cartridges in the loadingorientation such that the cartridges are presented to be loaded into themagazine feed.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the loadingorientation is an orientation at which the magazine feed engaged by thebase presents cartridges for extraction by a firearm.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the rear slot is for receiving the rearends of one or more cartridges.
 5. A device according to claim 1 whereinthe base releasably connects to a magazine which comprises the magazinefeed.
 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein in use the base enclosesthe feed of the magazine.
 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein thebase comprises a socket for receiving a magazine which comprises themagazine feed.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base isdimensioned such that it only engages with the magazine feed in aspecific orientation.
 9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the basecomprises an aperture through which cartridges may be displaced from therear slot into the magazine feed engaged by the base.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of the rear slot isnormal to the base.
 11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rearslot is arranged such that in use it extends from a rear end of themagazine feed engaged by the base.
 12. A device according to claim 1wherein the rear slot has open ends through which rear ends ofcartridges may be slid into and out of the rear slot.
 13. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide rail engages with anextractor groove of the cartridge.
 14. A device according to claim 1wherein the at least one guide rail comprises two guide rails.
 15. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guide rail extendsalong a length of the rear slot.
 16. A device according to claim 1further comprising a clip at a first end of the rear slot for preventingcartridges sliding freely out of an end of the rear slot.
 17. A deviceaccording to claim 16 further comprising a clip at a second end of therear slot opposite the first end of the rear slot for preventingcartridges sliding freely out of the end of the rear slot.
 18. A deviceaccording to claim 16 wherein the clip is comprised by the at least oneguide rail.
 19. A device according to claim 16 wherein the clip isresiliently deformable.
 20. A device according to claim 1 wherein the atleast one guide rail prevents cartridges from being displaced depth-wiseout of the rear slot.
 21. A device according to claim 1 furthercomprising a front slot for receiving front ends of the cartridges whoserear ends are received by the rear slot.
 22. A device according to claim21 wherein the front slot is parallel to the rear slot.
 23. A deviceaccording to claim 21 wherein a longitudinal opening of the front slotis opposite a longitudinal opening of the rear slot.